Braves lose Tim Hudson with ankle fracture; pitcher could miss rest of season

Wednesday

Jul 24, 2013 at 12:01 AMJul 25, 2013 at 12:20 AM

Victory over Mets proves costly as starting pitcher is injured covering first base.

The Associated Press

NEW YORK — Tim Hudson needs surgery on his broken right ankle, an injury that leaves the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves without one of their top pitchers.Hudson got hurt while covering first base Wednesday night during an 8-2 victory over the New York Mets when Eric Young Jr. stepped on the back of his lower leg. The 38-year-old right-hander was carted off the field in obvious pain.He had X-rays at Citi Field, and the Braves say he will undergo surgery in Atlanta once the swelling goes down. It's unclear how long Hudson will be out or whether he'll be able to pitch again this season.Hudson (8-7) was working on a four-hit shutout in the eighth inning when Young hit a grounder that was knocked down by first baseman Freddie Freeman. Hudson took Freeman's toss at the bag just before Young arrived, and the speedy outfielder inadvertently stepped on Hudson, driving his right ankle awkwardly into the ground.He immediately went down in pain, and Young rushed over to check on him. The crowd at Citi Field groaned when the replay was shown on the big video board.EMS workers strapped Hudson to a backboard and drove him off the field on a cart as fans applauded.Hudson struck out a season-high nine in 7 2-3 innings to win his fourth straight start.Evan Gattis, Dan Uggla and Andrelton Simmons all homered off an ineffective Jeremy Hefner to help the Braves' bats break loose after scoring only four runs in their previous three games. But the nasty-looking injury to Hudson is a huge concern, leaving the NL East leaders without a veteran winner who was on a roll.Hefner (4-8) compiled a 1.76 ERA in his final eight starts before the All-Star break, the best mark in the majors during that span. But he was tagged for a career-worst eight runs and 10 hits in two-plus innings last Friday against Philadelphia, a personal nemesis throughout his two-year career.The right-hander wasn't much better against Atlanta, allowing a career-high three homers in 4 1-3 innings. All of them were no-doubters, too.Gattis hit a solo shot into the second deck in left field in the second inning, his first home run since June 10 in San Diego. Despite spending 24 games on the disabled list with a strained muscle on his right side, he leads major league rookies by a wide margin with 15 homers and 39 RBIs.Brian McCann reached on an error to start the fifth when Murphy, playing deep on the outfield grass, bobbled an attempted backhand. Gattis singled and Uggla drove the next pitch to left for his 20th home run.Chris Johnson singled and, one out later, Simmons teed off on a 2-2 breaking ball to make it 6-0.Simmons also hit a leadoff homer Tuesday night for Atlanta's only run.Wearing orange jerseys with Los Mets written across the chest, the Mets could hardly get out of their own way. When star slugger David Wright broke his bat on a double-play grounder in the fourth, the barrel buggy-whipped around on his follow through and hit him in the back of the neck.Wright barely got out of the box before stopping in his tracks and bending over in pain. New York manager Terry Collins and a trainer came out to check on Wright in a moment of genuine concern, but he cracked a sheepish smile while rubbing his head as he walked back to the dugout.NOTES: Braves RHP Brandon Beachy, recovering from Tommy John surgery in June 2012, was set to make another rehab start Wednesday night for Triple-A Gwinnett. With LHP Paul Maholm (bruised left wrist) about to go on the 15-day disabled list today and Hudson's injury, Beachy should be back in the rotation soon. ... Rookie left-hander Alex Wood will be called up to start the series finale Thursday in Maholm's place. The 22-year-old Wood (0-2, 2.45 ERA) has made 16 major league appearances but only one start, when he lasted three innings in a June 18 loss to the Mets. He has since been stretched out in the minors, and manager Gonzalez said Wood could be pushed to about 90 pitches Thursday. ... Gonzalez said Maholm will make a minor league rehab start before returning from the DL. ... RHP Zack Wheeler (3-1, 3.58) pitches for New York on Thursday. The prized rookie threw six shutout innings at Atlanta to win his big league debut June 18. ... Mets OF Lucas Duda (ribcage) and catching prospect Travis d'Arnaud (foot) began their rehab assignments in the rookie level Gulf Coast League. Duda will play left field and first base during his rehab stint, Collins said. ... LHP Jonathon Niese (shoulder) should begin a rehab assignment in the GCL no later than next week, Collins said. ... Reserve infielder Justin Turner will make his first start Thursday since coming off the disabled list, Collins said.

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